Welcome the newest Register workers

SANDUSKY — There are a bunch of new names people have probably seen affiliated with the Register these past few months. So, in an effort to better understand these community journalists and committed staff members, let's flip the script and interview them for a better perspective. Circulation Katarina Riesterer is the Register's newest customer service representative for its circulation department. Originally from Slovakia, she visited the United States as a student on the Work & Travel USA program in 2017. She is a 2019 graduate of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, a city in Slovakia, earning a master's degree in finance, banking and investment. "I came to experience American culture and gain work experience," Riesterer said. "I never thought I would meet my future husband while working abroad, but it happened." Riesterer, who got married to Todd in June 2019, then wanted to make America her home and the Register her employer. Thus far, she thoroughly enjoys her job. "I love working for the Register because I feel the Register is an important part of this community and has been for a very long time," she said. "I'm still new to the Sandusky area, but I love this area and the people in this community, and they all depend on this paper for their news and information, and I'm very proud to be a part of it. I love talking to our subscribers who call in, and I always do my best to help them with what they need." Riesterer believes a newspaper plays "an integral part of a community and having a local newspaper focused on local news is still very important. Small-town newspapers give those stories the attention they deserve." She enjoys reading, hiking and exploring the Erie MetroParks properties. Interns The Register brought on two interns for summertime reporting. Izzy Keller Izzy Keller, a 2020 Huron High School graduate, is studying journalism at Ohio University. She's active in the university's student publications program. "I decided to intern at the Register to gain more journalism experience," Keller said. "Throughout the summer, I have had a great time covering events and feel that I have learned more about my community through my internship." Ever since she was 9 years old, she's envisioned herself working at a newspaper. When asked how to describe the role of a newspaper, Keller said, "It is the sharing of the community's stories to uplift the area and make the area better informed." During her free time, Keller enjoys working out, hitting up the beach and spending time with her dogs. MacKenzie Tastan While she lives in Vandalia, Ohio, near Dayton, MacKenzie Tastan expressed an interest to also become an intern. She became aware of the program through a past roundup article, like this, printed earlier this year about local high school students reporting at the Register. "I wanted to work at the Register to gain experience writing for a newspaper, and it's been great so far," Tastan said. She is a recent graduated from Sinclair Community College. "Everyone I've interviewed has been excited about having an article about them in the Register," Tastan said. "People have also contacted me afterward to say how happy they were with the coverage and how much positive interest it generated." Tastan emphasized how newspapers "are the building blocks of communities. They help people feel more connected to their neighbors and foster a sense of inclusivity among readers." Reporters Billy Heyen Originally from Rochester, New York, and shortly after graduating from Syracuse University, Billy Heyen relocated to Sandusky as the Register's newest sports reporter. "The Register provided a chance to jump-start my career with a full-time reporting position," Heyen said. "I spent lots of time in the Cleveland area growing up with my mom's side of the family based there, so there was also a comfort level with Ohio." Representatives from many local high schools — athletic directors, coaches, players, parents and fans — have already noticed his dedicated coverage and diligent reporting. "My first few months here were jam-packed with the high school spring sports season," Heyen said. "Most nights were spent at softball or baseball fields with some tracks and tennis courts mixed in." In addition to game recaps, Heyen prides himself on featuring standout student-athletes and how they make positive contributions in their communities. Some of his favorite moments, to date, include covering Vermilion en route to the state final four in baseball and writing about Margaretta's Kenna Stimmel as she won three state titles, becoming a repeat pole vault champion. Even in the "offseason," Heyen has kept himself busy. "The summer has provided a good chance to continue telling the stories of local athletes: a female wrestler from Port Clinton heading to nationals, summer league basketball, American Legion baseball and the upstart college league team in town, the Sandusky Bay Ice Haulers," he said. While Heyen never met the late Charles "Butch" Wagner, he's fully aware and already incorporates some of the late sport emeritus' principles into his everyday reporting. "Newspapers preserve moments that may be passed on from generation to generation," Heyen said. "A touchdown catch by an athlete in northern Ohio may not matter much on a grand scale, but it means the world to a select group of people locally. Newspapers provide a chance to record the achievements and tell the stories of the people and places that, in a moment in time, are the center of a community." During his downtime, Heyen enjoys watching sports and staying active by running. Colleen Carroll On the news side, new crime and breaking news reporter Colleen Carroll is also a recent college graduate, obtaining a degree from Kent State University earlier this year. She's originally from the Akron area. "I wanted to write for a local paper so that I could actually know the community I was writing about, to be able to see how the community moves and works in order to be a more informed reporter," Carroll said. "I only knew Sandusky as the place where you go to get to Cedar Point, but, through the few stories I've done and the ones that I've read about so far, I'm realizing it's a lot more than just a tourist attraction, and I'm excited about exploring the area." Carroll appreciates the importance of how a newspaper can serve its community. "It keeps people informed and connected," she said. "My first time writing for a local paper was through a summer internship with a monthly newspaper in Akron called the Devil Strip. In the three months I was there, I met so many incredible people and learned so many new things about the community I grew up in all my life. I was grateful for the opportunities to get to know my hometown more deeply, and I was excited to share it with the readers." When not working, Carroll likes running, hiking and watching nature documentaries. Shayne Nissen At the Reflector, which, in addition to the Register, is part of the Ogden family of newspapers, Shayne Nissen is the new general assignments reporter. From Genoa, he's a recent college graduate from Bowling Green State University. "I wanted to work for the Register (and the Reflector) because it was a place not far from home where I could continue to hone my journalism skills at a high-quality newspaper," Nissen said. "I appreciate and value what a newspaper stands for because it really is looking out for the people in that area." Nissen then underscored how he perceives newspapers and their vital nature. "Though not everyone might know it, local newspapers are trying to provide quality coverage of their town and get them the unbiased news that they need to know and wouldn't get anywhere else," he said. Other than journalism, Nissen has a strong passion for sports. He also finds joy in watching movies and playing video games, "most of which are sports-based."